Editor's note: This is one in a series visiting preseason drills for area high school football teams. The series will run through Saturday, Aug. 23. The MLive Muskegon Chronicle's preview section is scheduled to appear in print Sunday, Aug. 24.

KENT CITY, MI – A season ago, Kent City opened and closed with a bang with lopsided wins against Ravenna and Wyoming Lee, respectively.

It’s just the conference games in the meat of the schedule that tripped the Eagles up.

However, head coach Tom Krueger and the Eagles departed the OK Silver conference at the completion of the 2013-14 school year to join the Central State Activities Association Silver Division with Hesperia, White Cloud, Holton, Lakeview and Morley-Stanwood. This helps the Eagles as they’re now on a level playing field with schools of similar enrollment numbers.

That said, Krueger still lost several critical pieces of last year’s squad, including four offensive linemen and his son and former quarterback Jake Krueger.

Following the first week of practice, Krueger said the team is trying to fill these gaps, but has been swift in picking up the style of football being taught at Kent City.

“We’re working real hard, yeah,” Krueger said. “We have to replace quite a few guys, but the guys that are here have put in a lot of time and are working hard. It seems we’ve caught on to stuff a lot quicker than I thought we would.”

One player that could be a critical contributor for the Eagles is senior wide receiver Shane Rodenburg. A decorated wrestler at Kent City, Rodenburg also is one of the team’s most feared offensive weapons, earning a spot on Second Team of MLive Muskegon Chronicle’s 2013 Dream Team Offense.

Rodenburg was not in pads at practice on Wednesday, Aug. 13 because of an undisclosed lower body injury. However, Rodenburg said he hopes to hit the field soon and has lofty expectations for what the Eagles can accomplish on the offensive side of the ball this season.

“It’s hard to tell right now, but we could be good,” Rodenburg said. “We have a lot of really good kids coming back and, yeah, it gives me a little more pressure, but we have some kids who are gonna contribute a lot this year, too.”

Senior quarterback and southpaw Nick Alt would appear to be the frontrunner to replace Jake Krueger at the quarterback position. He’ll likely have to rely on the line contributions of senior J.C. Hagenah and junior Ryan Jasman to give him time in the pocket this year.

The elder Krueger said the team continues to evaluate its key contributors on both sides of the ball, optimistic that playmakers will reveal themselves as camp plows forward.

“As far as evolving, we’re kind of starting with a fresh ball of clay, actually,” Krueger said. “But like I said, the progression we’ve made, and I know it’s early, but I’m pretty happy. They work so hard and it’s making it easy.”